Filtering system for lubricants



FILTERING sYsTEM Foa LUBRIcANTs Filed July 25, 1924 -2 shuts-sheet 1.June 2 4,193o. w. NUGENT-r 1,768,139

FILTERING SYSTEM IFon LuanxcANTs 'Filed July 25, 1924 sheets-sheet 2'/-Ted f77-ys.

impurities returned to said oil reservoir 5 in the bed of the enginewithout interfering with the lubricating system of the engine.r A pipe21 extends into the reservoir 5 from beloa and communicates with a pump22 mounted in position to receive the oil withV the assistance ofgravity. The pump `22 driven4 by a motor 27 draws the used oil from thereservoir 5 into the pipes 2l through the open end 23 positioned Withinthe oil reservoir 5 and forces saidoil up the pipe 24 into the filteringdevice 3. TheV cleaned oil flows from the filtering device 3 through thepipe 25 into the reservoir 5. Thus it will be seen that oil iscontinually being supplied to the turbine from the reservoir 5 Whilesome of the oil in the reservoir is continually being-cleaned andreturned to said reservoir. It should be noted that the filtering deviceis connected in parallel with v the lubricating apparatus and that thelatter may beoperated independently of the filtering device whendesired.

A bypass pipe 26 is vprovided around the motor driven pump 22 and isequipped with an adjustable hand-operated valve 28 for the purpose'ofregulating the quantity of oil pumped from the reservoir 5. The bypasspipe 26 is providedfto permit some of the oiltore-circulate to andthrough the pump 22 and thus to reduce. the quantity of oil removed fromthe reservoir 5. When the adjustable valve 28 is closed by the handle 34all of the oil drawn from the reservoir 5 is forced directly up into thetop of the filtering device 3 and the rate at which said oilis removedfrom said reservoir is comparatively rapid. Vfhen the valve 28 is wideopen considerable oil is re-circulated through thepump 22 and thecapacity of the same is satisfied without removing a comparatively largequantity of oil from the reservoir 5. By adjusting the valve 28 it ispossible to regulate the rate of flow of oil to the filtering device 3and thus to predetermine the number of complete filtering cycles perunit of time. rlhe greater the amount of lubricant needed in thelubricating system `of the engine, the greater the amount of oil to bedrawn from the reservoir 5 and sent through the filter 3. The valve 23may also. be employed to prevent theV overflow of oil in the uppercompartment of the filtering device. lt is evident that all filteringdevices ultimately become filled withsediment and dirt and at such timesthe lltering operation is comparatively slow. rlhus in the event thatthe filtering device becomes partly incapacitated, a slight adjustmentof the valve 28 would relieve the situation and prevent the wastefuloverflow of oil. Y

The filtering apparatus 3 is equipped with overfiowalarm mechanismcomprising a bypass 3l connected to the alarm mechanism lpipe 3l-toeiifect operation of the alarm when the filter elements in anintermediate section of the filter become clogged and overflow. lt willthus be seen that when the filtering mechanism becomes inoperative theattendant is immediately notified by theY alarm mechanism that hisattention is required.

Tifhen the flow of oil from the pump 22 through the pipe 24: exceeds thecapacity of the filtering apparatus the uppermost compartment 39 mayoverfiow into the bypass pipe i0 which is preferably of larger internaldiameter than that of the pipe 3l. The upperv end of the pipe 3l.communicates with the bottom portion of a compartment in theVtojfysection While the upper end of the pipe Ll() communicates,with theupper portion of the same compartment. lf oil fiovvs through the pipe 3lto the alarm mechanism operation the latter it may be discontinued bythe attendant closing the valve 4l thereby stop-ping flow of oil intothe pipe 3l; j

The oil may llow uninterruptedly, however,

into the larger bypass pipe 4() and through the pi pe en to the oilreservoir 37. rlhe bypass -lll is usefull-o taire care oi a sudden rushoi a quantity oi oil from the turbine and thus the vdanger oil: oilspilling on Ythe floor is eliminated. `Then onlyfiltered oil can bepermitted to pass into the reservoir 37 the pipo 35. may be connected toa drain or sump tanirbut in the system disclosed in Fig. l it ispreferred to let the oil flow Athrough the connection 35 into theVreservoir 37 so as to maintain a predetermined vdepth of oil in thechamber 5. v

llvlhen the filtering apparatus 3 is operating at maximum capacity thevalve y28 may be fully closedbut when the filtering mate'- I rial andelements become gradually clogged the valve 28 may be openedgso as toVregulate the fleeT through the pipe 24. If the oil supplied to thefilter 3 exceeds the capacity of the latter the alarmmechanism will beoperated and if regulation ofthe valve 23 is not effected immediatelythe oil Willfoverflow the pipe Il() to prevent oil spilling on thefloor. It should be understood, however, that if desired the pipe 31alone may be relied on when made of sufficient internal diameter to takecare of all overflow of oil in the filter 3. Y

The filtering system may thus be l'cpt in operation continuously. andautomatically mes, 139

and the eiliciency of operation maintained by the alarm mechanism whichcalls the attendant when regulationV ot the valve is desirable or whenthe filtering elements need renewal lor most efficient operation.

H' the pump 22 fails the oil stays in the chamber 5 of the turbine base4. It the filter 3 fails the oil will pass on through the large overliowbypass pipe 40 on the side yoi' the filter back into the clean oilchamber 37 Vand through the pipe 25 back to the chamber 5 in Ltheturbine base. If the filter material or elements overflow the alarmmechanism will be operated to notify the attendant. l the alarm failstof-ring the oil will continue to flow back to the turbine base chamber5 -from the pipe 35, connection 367 tank 37 and pipe 25.

The turbine may therelore be kept in operation independently of thefiltering system after the latter has been operated for some timebecause the oil .in the base chamber 5 has -been Jtreed from water, dirtand impuriies. 'Vhile the pump 2-2may be located at various eleva-tions-fi't is preferred to mount it in such position that oil will besupplied to it Aby gravit-y from the chamber 5 through the pipe 211. Itshould be noted that the pipe 2l leads Jfrom .the chamber 5 to theintake el the pump 22 and .the oil is ted to the latter by gravitywithout any tendency to appreciably lower the depth of the oil in thechamber 5. It is important to maintain a predetermined depth ot oil inthe chamber 5 to assure continued operation ot the `regular lubricatingsystem of the turbine.

lt is also important to note that no special device is necessary in thissystem to ina-intain the oil in the chamber 5 at a predetermined depth.This Iis by reason o'l the fact that there is a gravity lfeed from thetank 37 :through the pipe 2.5 into the chamber 5. Vhile the vlilter 3 isshown yin Fig. l von the concrete base 2 it may bc located at Yvaryingdistances from the engine so long as the gravity lreed through the pipe25 is maintained. lt can readilyvbe seen that even when thereisloverlovv oi oil Ain the filter it is 'directed by gravity back to thechamber 5 in the base 4 of the turbine.

The details of the interior construction or'the iilter 3 of Fig. l willbe more fully understood lby referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The oil tobe liltered flows from the pipe 24 into the compartment 84 or' theuppermost section 39 and then passes through the filter wall 43 composedof spaced-.apart sheets of reticulated 'metal with the spaces betweenlilled with ltering material., such as animal hair, which when cloggedwith dirtmay be removed and replaced by clean hair. After passingthrough the lilter wall 43 the oil enters the compartment 44 out otwhich it flows by gravity at 45 into the water separating chamber 46. A.sight iiow -mon partition the upper opening may be provided at 47opposite the nozzle 45. A valve 48 may be provided for the compartment84. Normally this valve is closed but may be opened when it is desiredto clean sediment out of the compartment 84. y

In the water separating chamber 46 is ylo- 'ated a baille yplate 67 `tofreely -circul ate the incoming mixture. A steam heating pipe 49 withexterior connections or circulation .o'i steam is also provided forcompartment84. The WaterA descends and passes through the opening 5linto the exterior box 52 which is open at the top and has a pipe 53extending up a predetermined distance. This pipe is open at its top andbottom and has an adjustable extension 54 at its upper end and a sightflow device 55 at its lower end.

In the water separating chamber are three vertical oil pipes 56 eachopen at its upper end and each provided iat its upper-end with anadjustable extension. These adjustable extensions may be regulated inaccordance with the level of the support for the filtering apparatus asa whole. Thus the voil may be caused to flow equally through the threepipes 56.I the extension 54 being adjusted at a lower level so that thewater will flow through the pipe 53 to waste.

From the pipes 56 the oil vflows or 'drips into the filter elements 58each consisting of a plurality of nested filter bags suspended fromrings 59 the longest ol which has an overliow spout in position todeliver oil to the trough 61 when the bags become clogged and should becleaned or renewed. From the trough 6l the Aoil llows to the 1pipe33into the :pipe 3l and thence to the alarm apparatus. From Vthe filtervbags the oil tlows into the tank 37. The vglass gauge `62 may -be Yusedto indicate .that oil is properly {iowing .back tothe oil reservoir 5 inthe turbine base. A spigot 63 may be used to remove oil from the .oilchamber 37 when desired. @il may be supplied to the system by liftingthe lid 64 and pouring it into the com partment 84.

lt should be particularly l.noted that in the upper section 39 anentirely separate compartment G5 is provided. The adjacent compartment84 is provided with Ya comedge of -vvhich `is below the top -o'f bothcompartments 84 and 65. `When the iltering material 43 becomes cloggedor when the flow of oil from the pipe 24exceeds thecapacity of vtheilter the compartment 84 will fill up until the oil overflows the edgeV66 into the separate compartment 65. The upper end of the pipe 3lcommunicates with the bottom ot the comi partment and therefore il thevalve'41 is open the oil will first flow down the pipe 3l to operatethe-alarm mechanism to call the attendant. However, if the chamber 65ills rapidly the oil will subsequently iiow ,into the large pipe 40. Theupper end of the latter is connected to compartment 65 at a substantialdistance above the upper end of' the pipe 3l.

For the purpose of facilitating inspection of the filter bags when thedoor G9 is open a suitable incandescent lamp may be provided, as shownat 68. A tray 71 is provided in front of the filter chamber above thetank 37 to receive the diip from the filter elements when removed forthe purpose of cleaning the same.

The preferred form. of alarm mechanism is shown in Fig. 5. lVhen oilflows down the pipe 3l it fillsY the tray 7l which is pivoted at 72 tothe box 73. The oil in the tray tilts the latter so that the arm 7lcloses the electric switch 75. A circuit will be closed from oneterminal 7 6 of the dry cell 77 through the wire 7 3, electric bell 7 9,wire 30, switch 7 5, arm 75l, metal casings 73 and 3l to the otherterminal 82 of the dry cell. The electric bell 79 will continue to ringas long as the overflow continues through the pipe 3l. Then thisoverflow ceases, however, the -oil in the tray 7l will drain out of therestricted opening 33 into the casing 73. Wvhatever oil flows into thecasing 7 3 will flow into the pipe 35 and thence into the tank 37through the pipe 36 which is in communication with pipe sections 40 and35. When vthe oil has been drained out of the tray 7l the latter will beautomatically moved up or restored to its initial position and this willcause the arm 74 to move down and open the switch 75 therebyinterrupting the circuit fromthe battery through the electric bell. Thealaim mechanism will therefore automatically cease its operation andautomatically restore itself to normal soon after the overflow of' oilceases, in readiness for another automatic operation when the oil againoverflows. f

Qbviously those skilled in the art may ymake various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without' departing from the spirit andscope of the invention defined by the claims hereto appended, and it istherefore desired not to be restricted to the precise constructionherein disclosed.

VHaving thus fully described and shown' an embodiment of the invention,what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of' the United Statesis:

l. In filtering apparatus, the combination with filtering mechanism, ofa reservoir, alarm mechanism adapted to Ybe operated by overflow fromsaid filtering mechanism, an overflow by-pass, and connections betweensaid-alarm mechanism and said reservoir and between said by-pass andsaid reservoir, for conducting overflow to said reservoir.

2. In filtering` apparatus, the combination with `a filter devicecomprising an upper receiving chamber and a lower reservoir,

of indicating mechanism adapted to be operated by overflow, an overflowcompartment associated with said. upper receiving chamber,

a Connection from said compartment to said indica/ting` mechanism, and amanually operated valve for-closing the said connection between saidcompartment and said indicating mechanism.

3. In purifying apparatus, the combination with a filter devicecomprising an overof said lirst-named pipe to said compartment forconducting overflow :trom the overflow compartmenty in eXcess of thecapacity of the first-named pipe.

Ll. In `purifying apparatus, the combination with an upper preliminaryfilter, of a lower receiving tank, separating mechanism below saidfilter, additional filtering mechanisin below said separating mechanism,overflow alarm mechanism, and connections for directing loverflow fromsaid preliminary filter and from said additional filtering mechanism tosaid alarm mechanism to operate the latter upon overflow of either saidpreliminary filter oi said additional filtering mechanism.

5. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a filter devicecomprising an overflow compartment and a. receiving tank, of overflowindicating mechanism, an overflow pipe connected between saidcompartment and said indicating mechanism and means for directing theoverflow from said indieating mechanism into said receiving tank.

6. In filtering apparatus, the combination with` filtering mechanism, ofa tank for receiving from the filtering mechanism,

a by-pass around the filtering mechanism and leading into said tank, andindicating mechanism interposed in said by-pass for operation by theliquid flowing through said by-pass.

7. In kfiltering apparatus, the combination with filtering mechanism, ofa receiving tank, overflow indicating mechanism, connections comprisingay pipe of relatively small internal diameter for directing over-` tionwith a filter device comprising-an upper filter and a lower receivingtank, of an over flow compartment associated, with upper filter, aconnection between said coinsaid Y partment and said tank for conductingoverflow to said tank, overflow indicating mechanism interposed in saidconnection between said compartment and said tank, and an additionalconnection between said comoverflow indicating mechanism interposed insaid connection, and an additional connection between the upper portionof said compartment and said tank to direct overflow into the latterindependently of said firstnamed overflow connection.

10. In a lubricating system, the combination with a source of supplycomprising an oil reservoir, of oil purifying apparatus, means forpumping oil from said reservoir into said oil purifying apparatus, means4for directing oil from said purifying apparatus into said reservoir,overflow indicating mechanism for said oil purifying apparatus, andmeans for directing overflow back into the system after operating saidindicating mechanism.

11. In an automatic circulating system, the combination with areservoir, of purifying apparatus, means for drawing from said reservoirand supplying said purfying apparatus, overflow indicating mechanismautomatically operable when the capacity of the purifying apparatus isexceeded, means for directing the overflow back into the system afteroperating said indicating mechanism, and means for directing theoverflow from the purifying apparatus to said reservoir.

12. In a lubricating system, the combination with an oil reservoir, ofautomatic oil purifying apparatus, automatic means for drawing oil fromsaid reservoir to said purif in(y a i aratus overflow alarm mechanism Ye l v automatically operable when the capacity 5g of the oil purifyingapparatus is exceeded,

and means for automatically directing oil from said purifying apparatusto said reservoir.

13. In an automatic lubricating system,

the combination with an oil reservoir, of

automatic oil purifying apparatus, automatic means for drawing oil fromsaid reservoir and supplying it to said purifying apparatus, automaticmeans associated with ao said purifying apparatus for by-passing the oilwhen the supply exceeds the capacity of said oil purifying apparatus andkeeping such by-passed oil in the system to maintain the quantity in thesaid reservoir at 35 approximately a predetermined amount, and

means for directing oil from said purifying apparatus to said reservoir.

14. In a lubricating system for engines, the combination with areservoir, of an automatic circulating system for drawing oil from saidreservoir and after being used returning the oil to said reservoir, oilpurifying apparatus, means for drawing oil from said reservoir and afterpurification returning the oil to said reservoir without interferingwith the operation of said automatic circulating system, and automaticmechanism for by-passing overflow in said purifying apparatus and givingan indication of such overflow while maintaining the depth of oil insaid reservoir approximately constant.

15. In an automatic lubricating system, the combination with an oilreservoir, of automatic circulating lubricating apparatus connected tosaid reservoir, automatic circulating oil purifying apparatus connectedto said reservoir in parallel with said circulating lubricatingapparatus, overflow means associated with said purifying apparatus toprevent spilling of the oil and maintain the same in the system toassure the maintainance of the oil in said reservoir at an approximatepredetermined depth, and indicating mechanism associated with saidoverflow means.

16. In a lubricating system for engines, the combination with an oilreservoir, of circulating lubricating apparatus for draaing oil fromsaid reservoir and returning used oil thereto, oil purifying apparatus,means for automatically drawing oil from said reservoir and supplying itto said purifying apparatus, overflow indicating mechanism, means forautomatically operating said indicating mechanism by overflow, a by-passfor receiving excess of supply to Vsaid oil purifying apparatus, meansfor maintaining overflow and excess supply in the system, and means forautomatically directing oil from said purifying apparatus to saidreservoir while the depth in the latter is maintained approximatelyconstant.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this8th. day of July, A. D. 1924.

WILLIAM IV. NUGENT.

